Remember the television commercial with tennis star, Andre Agassi, where he says confidently, "Image is everything."? In the world of college admissions, there obviously has to be substance behind your application. But it doesn't hurt to work on your image a bit.
记得阿加西的那个电视广告吗？他自信满满地说，“形象就是一切。”在大学申请中，实力的重要性不言而喻，但这并不妨碍你对自己的形象下点功夫。
That's where your student profile comes in. What is a student profile? Well, there is no such thing as a “student profile form”。You have to create an image of yourself through a number of means. The end result is that the admissions staff at the colleges where you are applying will get an overall picture of you from smaller pieces. It's the mosaic principle.
这就是你学生档案的作用了。什么是学生档案？其实是没有一个“学生档案表格”的，你得通过各种各样的方式塑造自己的个人形象。最终目标就是让大学招生官从碎片似的材料中拼凑出一个有关你的完整形象，这就是马赛克原则。
One of the pieces is your application information. Don't just quickly dash off information without first checking to see how it can help your cause. Give it some thought. Sometimes an application will ask for seemingly minor information such as, “Write a brief description of how you spent your time last summer.” This is really a mini-essay. For this one, don't tell them how bored you were or how late you slept in. Tell them about your summer job and how you pursued your photography hobby. Show them that you are a vital and energetic person. Get the idea?
这其中一部分碎片是你的申请信息。别只是匆匆填完这些信息，先看看它们能怎样帮到你的申请，多想想。有时申请时会要求填一些看起来无关紧要的东西，例如“简要说说你怎么度过上个夏天的”。这其实是一篇小文章，千万别写你如何无聊如何熬夜晚睡。写写你的暑期工作，或者怎么发展你对摄影的兴趣。要展现出自己充满生气、活力四射的形象，懂了吗？
Another piece comes from your essay (personal statement), if one is required. This is your big chance to shine. Don't be mundane or cute. Imagine how many essays these folks have to read. Make yours stand out. Whatever your choices are for an essay topic, avoid the typical topics-- sports, pets, vacations, and so forth. Dig deep down and come up with a significant statement that applies to you in a special way. These people want to know what goes on inside. Finally, don't overlook your recommendations. When you ask a teacher or your counselor to write a recommendation for you, ask them if they might be able to include some personal anecdotes about your personal characteristics. This would include anything about your character or individual traits that would enhance the aspects you put forth in your application and essay.
另一部分碎片来自你的文书（个人陈述）。这就是你大放异彩的时候了。切记平庸无趣或故作可爱，想想招生官得读多少篇文书啊，所以要尽力使自己的文书有记忆点。不管你选择什么样的主题，尽量避免如体育，宠物，假期之类老掉牙的题材。深入挖掘，找到契合自己的表达方式。招生官们想了解的的是你的想法和见解。最后，别忽略推荐信。当你请老师或顾问为你写推荐信的时候，尽量请他们写一些能展现你个人性格的、具体的事例，这可以包括你的个性、或者和你的申请信息和文书相互补充的个人特色。
If you do these things, readers of your application will be able to derive a deeper and more personal picture of who you are. You'll stand out from the pile of other applicants and, assuming your academic credentials are acceptable, give you an edge in the admissions process.
如果你做到了这些，招生官们就能从你的材料中得到对你更深刻更个人化的了解。你才会从无数的申请者中脱颖而出，在学术能力不拖后腿的情况下有更多胜算。
By Dave Berry
Derived from CC
【智梦简介】
智梦是一家专注美国本科留学的教育咨询机构。
我们的使命：
“智梦教育团队深知留学申请关系到学生及其家长的前途和未来，我们将竭尽所能帮助每一位智梦学员发掘其潜在的特质，以开放透明的申请方式，让他们能不留遗憾的争取到自己的理想学校。与此同时，培养他们成为诚实守信、独立思考、德才兼备的国际化人才。”
我们的愿景：
“智梦教育将成为一所发掘学术兴趣，培养学术能力，塑造具有公民意识的新时代留学生的学校。”
